Don Mclean-American Pie chords

Highlighted
Show chord diagrams

#-------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
American Pie chords
Don McLean
GDEm
A long, long time ago,
AmCEmD
I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile.
GDEmAmC
And I knew if I had my chance, that I could make those people dance,
EmCD
and maybe they'd by happy for a while.
EmAmEmAm
But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver.
CGAmCD
Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step
GDEmAmD
I can't remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride;
GDEmCD7GCG
something touched me deep inside, the day the music died.
GCGDGC
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.
GAm, CAm
Did you write the book of love, and do you have faith in God above,
EmDGDEm
if the Bible tells you so? Now do you believe in rock and roll,
AmCEmA7D7
can music save your mortal soul? And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
EmAmEmAm
Well I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym
CGA7CD7
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues!
GDEmAmC
I was a lonely teenage bronching buck, with a pink carnation and a pick-up truck.
GDEmCD7GCG
But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music died.
GD7
I started singing....
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.
GAmCAm
Now for ten years, we've been on our own; and moss grows fat on a rolling stone,
EmDGDEm
but that's not how it used to be. When the jester sang for the King and
AmCEmA7D7
Queen, in a coat he borrowed from James Dean, and a voice that came from you and me
EmAmEmAm
Oh, and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown;
CGA7CD7
the court room was adjourned, no verdict was returned.
GDEmAmC
And while Lennon read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park;
GDEmCD7GCG
and we sang dirges in the dark, the day the music died,
D7
we were singing
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
GAmCAm
Helter skelter in the summer swelter, the birds flew off with a fallout shelter;
EmDGDEm
eight miles high and falling fast. It landed foul on the grass,
AmCEmA7D7
the players tried for a forward pass; with the jester on the sidelines in a cast
EmAmEmAm
The half time air was sweet perfume, while the sergeants played a marching tune;
CGA7CD7
we all got up to dance, but we never got the chance. 'Cause
GDEmAmC
the players tried to take the field, but the marching band refused to yield
GDEmCD7GCG
Do you recall what was revealed, the day the music died?
D7
We started singing
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
GAmCAm
Oh, and there we were all in one place, a generation lost in space;
EmDGDEm
with no time left, to start again. So come on, Jack be nimble, jack be quick,
AmCEmA7D7
Jack flash sat on a candlestick, 'cause fire is the devil's only friend.
EmAmEmAm
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage.
CGA7CD7
No angel born in hell, could break that Satanís spell
GDEmAmC
And as the flames climbed high into the night, to light the sacrificial rite;
GDEmCD7GCG
I saw Satan laughing with delight, the day the music died.
D7
We were singing
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
GDEm
I met a girl who sang the blues so,
AmCEmD
I asked her for some happy news; but she just smiled and turned away.
GDEmAmC
I went down to the sacred store, where I heard the music years before,
EmCDEm
but the man there said the music wouldn't play. And in the streets
AmEmAm
the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed.
CGAmCD
But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken.
GDEmAmD
And the three men I admire most: the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
GDEmCD7G
They caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
D7
And they were singing
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
EmA7EmD7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
D7
And they were singing
GCGDGC
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
GDGCGD
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
CD7GCG
this'll be the day that I die
Set8